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Every Saturday night, WETA presents a movie festival of exciting and commercial-free movies for your enjoyment in the Washington, DC area. These compelling films begin at 9:30pm on Saturday, December 22 so read on and see what's on this week!

Change

Change is an inevitable part of life. Sometimes we seek it, but often we’re reluctant to change. This week, see distinct examples of change in our WETA Movies.

Change of Heart

Andy Griffith stars as a naïve but good-intentioned soldier who has managed to avoid the draft for quite some time. When the head of the draft board unexpectedly arrives at his home, Will Stockdale is persuaded to join the ranks of other American men and serve his country. He immediately finds a friend and confidante in Ben Whitledge a man who is passionate about following in the footsteps of his six brothers who have all served as infantrymen. Master Sergeant King is in charge and has an agenda that includes sabotaging Stockdale but as the plan unfolds; he must pay the consequences for his actions. Roles swap, friendships end and rekindle, and Will and Ben find themselves in a precarious situation which leads to a surprise ending.

Watch No Time for SergeantsSaturday, December 22 at 9:30pm on WETA TV26 and WETA HD.

Fighting for Change

It seems that today’s society accommodates the disabled with the various handicap accessible options like ramps, elevators, and reserved parking spots. However, it hasn’t always been smooth sailing for those living with a disability. Americans with disabilities had to fight for the respect, acceptance, and basic rights as the non-disabled.

Independent Lens: Lives Worth Living tells the story of the handicap movement following World War II, when disabled Americans were denied basic human rights and treated as inferior. Fed up, disabled Americans banded together (some literally chaining their wheelchairs together in protest) with a common cause. Seeking to defeat the notion that the disabled had no will or reason to live, they proved that they had the same goals and dreams as the non-disabled and that they could accomplish almost anything if only given the same opportunities and rights. Thanks to their efforts, The Americans with Disabilities Act was created, signed and implemented. However, the battle for inclusion and equality was, and still is, far from over for Americans with disabilities. Be inspired by the resilience and unwavering determination of one of the largest minorities’ fight for equality.

Boyz n the Hood and Casablanca have a lot in common, believe it or not. Since the time of their release, both movies have been wildly popular. They've both been nominated for and won countless awards. Most impressively, the films are among a carefully chosen list comprising The National Film Registry. The Library of Congress is employed with the task of choosing those films which exemplify and fulfill being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant”. No genre is excluded, but making the cut is no easy feat since only 25 films are selected each year.

Independent Lens: These Amazing Shadows sheds light on the little-known world of The National Film Registry. Through interviews and film clips, learn the history of how and why The National Film Registry came to be, and identify with the impact of the notable films which comprise the Registry. The diversity of the films is wide, yet the films all reflect a slice of American culture, ideas and history. Thus, preserving them is integral and allows for future generations of audiences to experience the same emotions, connections and stories.

Watch Independent Lens: These Amazing ShadowsSunday, December 23 at 12:30am on WETA TV26 and WETA HD.

Lawrence, Massachusetts has earned the nickname “Immigrant City”. It was founded by Irish immigrants fleeing the Great Potato Famine followed by waves of immigrants from Germany, Italy, Eastern Europe, and Canada. As one of the poorest municipalities in the United States, it is still a welcoming place for newcomers including new immigrants mostly from the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. Independent Lens: Scenes From a Parish takes a look at issues of community, tolerance, and immigration from the perspective of a Catholic priest who is trying to hold his disparate congregation together. Meet the people that make up this town and learn that their idea of home and belonging is deeper than a simple matter of ethnicity.

Watch Independent Lens: Scenes From a ParishSunday, December 23 at 1:30am on WETA TV26 and WETA HD.

Every Saturday, WETA hosts the Fall Movie Festival where we compile exciting and commercial-free movies for you to enjoy in your Washington, DC area home. Watch these compelling films this Saturday, November 17!

Truth

George Washington said, “Truth will ultimately prevail where there is pains taken to bring it to light.” With the revelation of truth comes serenity and peace. Experience catharsis and multiple sighs of relief as the truth is revealed in three films this Saturday night!

The Truth Will Win Out

When Vincent Parry’s wife is suddenly killed, Parry is promptly convicted of murder. He must exert all of his energies toward clearing his name, without allowing his morning to distract him Vincent escapes prison and subsequently encounters multiple barriers, but repeatedly manages to evade capture (despite being highly wanted). When Vincent meets Irene, the beautiful woman takes the supposed killer under her wing. Irene developed an unwavering passion in seeking justice for the wrongly convicted when, years earlier, her father was convicted of murder. Dark Passage is a thriller following Vincent’s pursuit for freedom, righteousness, and a clear name. In his tireless attempts for clarity, what extreme measures will Vincent take and will he succeed in tracking down his wife’s killer? To complicate matters, the killer might be right under his nose...

Dark Victory stars Bette Davis as Judith, the young New York socialite with hobbies suitable for her class: smoking, drinking, horses, and fast cars. A horse-riding accident leaves Judith with some uncomfortable after-effects, and only at the urging of her friend Ann does she seek a doctor’s counsel. Testing reveals life-altering results: Judith has incurable cancer. She will soon become blind, and death will inevitably follow. However, Judith neglects to say her “adieus” …because her failing health is kept a secret! Why does Dr. Steele keep his lips sealed and will the truth set itself free before it’s too late? Dark Victory is a tale of love, deceit, and coping.

Watch Dark VictorySaturday, November 17 at 11:20pm on WETA TV and WETA HD.

The Truth Right In Front Of Us

Block parties take place in neighborhoods across America every summer. After all, everyone on the street can relate to each other: happy children, full-time jobs, family dinners, weekends spent at the dog park or soccer field. But New York City’s Park Avenue set follows different rules, depending on which half you live. The mega-rich reside on Park Avenue’s Upper East Side—the wealthiest neighborhood in all of New York City. Take a leisurely stroll ten minutes up the block to the South Bronx, however, and the neighborhood sights, sounds, and smells will leave you wondering how only ten minutes mean the difference between luxury and lower income.

Independent Lens brings you Park Avenue: Money, Power & The American Dream, a shocking exploration of the extreme disparity in quality of life along one avenue. On one side live billionaires while. on the other side. forty percent of residents live in poverty. Park Avenue in the South Bronx is America’s poorest congressional district, plaqued by unemployment, crime, and failing schools. Yet these residents can literally see the “other side”, the so-called “better side”, from their windows. So close physically, with dreams of putting truth to the The Jefferson’s theme song lyrics, “moving on up to the East Side”.

But actually making the move to the other side is not as simple as America naively preaches. Sometimes achieving the American Dream demands more than hard work, determination, and a hearty dose of “American spirit”. Park Avenue: Money, Power & The American Dream looks at the invisible barricade that divides rich from poor and powerful from oppressed on both sides of Park Avenue.

Watch Independent Lens Park Avenue: Money, Power & The American Dream Saturday, November 17 at 1:00am on WETA TV26 and WETA HD.